Headrest



Oct. 9, 1928. 1 1,686,631

A. J. MAY

y HEADREST Filed May 18, 192s 2 sheets-.sheet 1 ocr, 9, 192s. f1,686,631

A. J. MAY

HEADREST Filed May 18, 192:5 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTQR.

Patented oct. 9, 1928. f

UNITED STA TESY PATENT forrica.

ADAM' a. M aY, or ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, AssmivonjnY MEsNE nssrenmnitrs,To

RITTER DENTAL MFG. COMPANY, INC.,

.limiiieaumi med Mayis,

This invention relates to head-rests of the variety adapted, forexample, for use with chairs or other articles of furniture, and moreparticularly with dentists chairs for supporting the head of the patientduring an operation, oneobject of the invention being to proy vide apractical and eficient head-rest capable l of being quickly andconveniently adjusted through a Wide .range of differentypositions andsecurely yclamped in such positions. An# other object is the provisionof such a headrest with an advantageous supporting .pad having a form ofconstruction which is simple in character, comprising but a few parts,ivhich forms a comfortable and effective sup-y port for the head of thepatient, and which maybe easily disassembledfor the purpose ot replacingthe covering or other part. I

To these and otherendsv the invention resides in certain improvementsand combina` tions of parts all as Willbe hereinafter more fullydescribed, the `novel features being pointed'out in the claims aty thespecification.

In'the drawings: n

1 is a rear elevation of a head-rest embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a view of parts shoi'vn in Fig.` 1 l unclanipedY and adjustedto a different posiy tion;

Ain Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a-sectional elevation on the line ,5a-5a inFig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6a-,61 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7 a-7a in Fig. 5; 1 Y i v 8 is asectional View on line 81-8i in- Fig. V2, showing the details ofconstruction of thehead pad and its mounting, and

Fig. 9 is a'vievv of the rear side of the head pad, detached and partlybroken away.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate thesame parts. I The embodiment of the invention at present preferred, andherein disclosed byr Way of illustration of the principles involved,comprises a form of head rest Vparticularly suitable forusewithadentists chair, having a supporting means or brackets adaptedfor y attachment to the back of a chair, with parts adjustably connectedwith the bracket and chair. rmember 14 receives the journall of asubstantially U-shaped part or arm 1T more par-V end of the Y Fig. 4 isa sectional. vieW on the line ift-4a OF ROCHESTER, NEVI YORK, ACORPOR-.r

' HEADRE ST.

1923 serial No. 639,884.

With eachother for rflexibly*supporting the pad' so that the latter maybe easily4 adjustedv to the variousdiiferent positionsrequired in use.The supporting bracketis indicated at 10, Fig. 1, .as comprising asubstantially plate t like body portion adapted'for attachment by anysuitable means to an article of furniture,`

With an upwardly extending arm 11, curved horizontally as at 12 andterminating in a journal portion 16, Figs. l and 5.

v Adjustably supported on bracket'l() is a columnar or tubular member14havinga longitudinally extending bore as shown in 5, with a transversebearing opening. 15 at each end communicating With the longitudi-- nalbore. The'loiver bearing 15 receives the bracket journal 13 so thatmember 14 is pivotally supported on the latter for movement in thepresent instance toward and from the The upper bearing opening 15l ofticularly described hereafter which is thus supported on the'upper endof memberv 14 for pivotal movement toward and: from the chair. The axesof the pivotalv connections described above, between member 14, arm 17 jand bracketlO, thus lie in a V(.:ommon plane.

Arm 17 thus hasa pivotal movement on member 14 toward and from the chairand also a body movement with member 14 in the same direction onbracket'lO thereby providinga in opposite directions by clamping meansdescribed hereafter. The outer ends of the elements are Vcurvedconcavely as v.shovvn to conform With. the surfaces of the journals..While ltheir contiguous inner ends are preferably V Shaped t0Pl'Ovideinclined cam` surfaces adrig. 5. f f f vThe 'clamping means forthe connections. of

member 14.y comprisespreferablyY a hollen" substantiallycylindricalmemberv 21, Fig. 5.

yvvide range of ,adjustibilityY for the .head pad in this direction orplane, and effective'means.

are provided for clamping these parts in posi j ltion after adjustment.l Y

I claim as my invention-'z screw being carried by an .enlargement orvmounting 5G formed at the ends of the inner yoke lill. Mounting 56 has aflange 57 projecting toward'the rearsideof the pad ando'f a diametersnlneient for enclosingthe securing'hooks 53 ofthe outer pad coveringsheet as shown.' Then the pad backing is `,drawn home on its mounting'by means of screw 55, flange 5'? reflects the sheet por 4ion on the rearside ofthe pad thereby increasing the tautness withv which the 'sheetsare preli'mif narilyapplied.' ThisL construction provides between thecovering material on the forward side oi' the padand the. depressedintermediate portions 'of theA backing a substantially air tight chamber5'"a which the air is compressed by impact of an object on the pad toincrease the cushioning etlect and also support theA covering.l Theconstruction described affords a padfot a simple and economical formcomprising but- 'few parts combining softness and.co1nfort for the headot the 'patient with the'requisite'strength and durability, and thecovering material may be quickly and conveniently yremoved and replacedas conditions may require.V The pad is at'thesame time compact and ofaneat pearance. j Y j j The'operation of the head rest vhas been ej;-pla'ined indetail'in connection' withfthe description or" itsconstruction and it is 'clear that by swinging handle upwardly member lemay bek unclamped and swungA pivotally toward and from the chair. AArm17 mayl be similarly swung on member to adjust the location and angularposition of the pads as desired. l/Vhen so adjusted these parts arerigidly clampedin position by depressing the handle. Also bymanipulation of handle the pad supporting yolres are released formovement onthe parallel motion linkage laterally ofthe'chairandreclamped of course swings within the outeryoke, all ot theseadjustments affording an enceedingly flexible support Jor the pads whichis also easily manipulated and clamped. [The pads are simple andeconomical in construction providing a soft and comfortablesupportingsurface combining effectively with the flexibility of the surface'toafford an advantageous and efficient apparatus.v *Y

l. 'In a head rest, the combination a supbracket, a head rest having anadjustable connection with the other endY of said'membeig ap-A thrustelements extending longitudinally in said member with their inner endsspaced one said adjustable'connections,respectively,nonrotatable wedgemeans interposed between said inner ends vfor atransverse slidingmovenient between said elements to bring their outer ends intol clampingcooperation with said adjustable connections, and Inaniul'ativel meansincluding a pivotal elementadapted to slide said wedge meanstransversely between said thrust elements.'

vj 2. In. a head rest, the combination of supporting means providedwithfa-'journah head rest provided with a journal, acolum'nar' memberhaving transverse bearings at its ends for said journals, respectively,a-pair of thrust elements extending longitudinally :in said member withtheir inner ends spaced one from the other and their outer ends adjacentthe respective journals, clamping means slidable between said elementsfor forcing them longitudinally in opposite directions into engagementwith said journalsfto clamp the latter immovably in their bearings and apivv otedcam for actuating lsaid slidable clampmg means. 1 Y 3. In aheadrest, Vthe combination ofsupporting means provided with ,a journal, ahead rest provided with a journal, a tubular fmember having at its endsbearingopenings porting-means provided with aijournal, a

head rest provided with aj ournal, a columnar member having transversebearings at its ends for said journals, respectively, a pair of thrustelements extending longitudinallyy in said memberwith Vtheir inner endsvspaced one from the other and their outer ends adj acent the respectivejournals, relatively movable wedge members interposed between lsaidelement ends, and manipulative members toward the other for operatingone of said wedge means including a hand lever to force said Ielementsin opposite directions into engagement with ,said journals to clamp thelatter'immovably in their'bearings.` j 5. In'V ahead rest, thecombination of supfrom theother'and their outer ends adjacent portingmeans provided with a journal, a j

head rest provided with a journal, a columnar member havingl transversebearings at its'ends for. said journals, respectively, a pain of thrustelements 'extending' longitudinally 'of said member with their innerends contiguous and their outer ends adjacent the respective journals,said elements having inclined cam surfaces at their contiguous ends,relatively movable wedge members interposed between said cam surfaces,and a handpiece pivoted on the exterior of said member having a camsurface cooperating with said wedge members for forcing one toward theother to press said elements in opposite direct-ions into clampingengagement with said journals.

6. In a head rest, the combination with a supporting bracket adapted forattachment to a chair back and having a journal, a head rest having ajournal, a tubular member having transverse bearing openings in its endsextending through the bore ofA said member for receiving said journals,respectively, a pair of rods in end to end relation in said member borewith their outer ends adjacent the respective journals, said rods beingsubstantially V-shaped at their contiguous ends, a wedge adjustablycarried by said member to project from one side between said rod ends, awedge movably carried by said member on the opposite side of said rodends, and a handpiece pivoted on said member and provided wit-h meansfor forcing said movable wedge between the ends ofsaid rods to force thelatterv apart into clamping engagement with said journals.

7. In a head rest, the combination of supporting means, a columnarmember having at one end a pivotal connection with said means, aU-shaped arm having upper and lower substantiallyy parallel portions,thelatter having pivotal connection with the other end of said member,longitudinal thrust elements carried by said member with their innerends in contiguous relation and their outerends adjacent said pivotalconnections, respectively, manipulative means for thrusting saidelementsv in opposite directions into yengagement with said `pivotalconnections for Vimmovab'ly clamping said arm, member and supportingmeans together, a bracket for supporting a headv rest, a parallel motionlinkage connecting said arm and bracket, and clamping.

means upon the upperportion of the arm for securing saidbracket inadjusted `position on the arm.

8. In a head rest, the combination of supporting means, a columnarmember having at one end a pivotal. connection with' said means, an armhaving upper and lower substantially parallel portions, the latter ofwhich is pivotcd upon the other end of said member, said pivotalportions having aXes in a common plane, longitudinal thrust elementscarried rby said member with their inner ends in contiguous relation andtheir outer ends adjacent said pivotal portions, respectively,manipulative means for thrusting said elements in opposite directionsinto engagement with said pivotal portions to immovably clamp the partsin adjusted position, an element for `with. said bracket, a U-shaped armadjustable upon said part, clamping means for securing said arm inadjusted position, a head pad and a mounting therefor, parallel linksconnecting said arm and padmounting, and

clamping means upon the larm for securing said links and mounting inadjusted position'. 10. In a head rest, the combination of a supportingbracket, a columnar member having an end adjustably connected with saidbracket, a curved.` arm. including upper and lower substantiallyparallelportions, the latter of which is adjustably connected with theother end of said member, means for clamping said arm, member andbracket together in adjusted position, a pair of head pads, yoke meanssupporting said pads, parallel links each pivotally connected with saidyoke and the upper portion of the arm, and means for clamping said linksand yoke in adjusted'po sition on said upper arm portion. V

l1. In a device of the class described, the combination witha head restand a supporting bracket, of a tubular member` adjustably connected withsaid head rest and bracket, thrust elements disposed within said tubularmember Vfor effecting-a clampingraction between the latter and saidbracket and head rest, a slide mounted for movement transversely of saidtubular member, wedge members carried by the slide with their adj acentends engaging the adjacent ends of the thrust elements, and a roller onthe slide and a pivoted handle having la cam for moving one of the wedgemembers toward the other whereby to move the plunger elements inopposite directions. y

l2. In a device of the classl described, the combination with ahead-rest and al supporting bracket, of an intermediate memberadjustably connectedwith said head-rest and bracket, thrust membersdisposed'within said intermediate member with their inner endscontiguous andtheir outer ends arranged for cooperation with 1 saidhead-restv and bracket whereby to hold the head-rest and intermediatemember in different positions ofadju'stment, a slide mounted for freemovement in a transverse guideway formed on said interme-r diate member,oppositely disposed members carried by the slide, eachof whichengagesthe contiguous ends of said'thrust members and one of which is slidablymounted for movementtoward the other to move said thrust members inoppositev directions and a member movable upon the slide toeifectmovement of said slidably'mounted member: l

13. In a device of the class described, the

iso

combination with a head-rest and a supporting bracket, of anintermediatemember adjustaby connected with said head-rest and bracket,thrust members disposed within said intermediate member With their innerends contiguous and their outer ends arranged for cooperation with saidhead-rest and bracket Y whereby to hold the head-rest and intermediatemember in different positions of adjustment, a slide mounted for freemovement in a transverse opening formed 1n said intermediate member7spaced actuating members carried by the slide havingl Wedge shapedyportions extending between the contiguous ends of said thrust members,loneof said aetuating members being free to move upon the slide and amember mounted to swing upon the slide and having a cam. portion formoving the last mentioned actuating 'member whereby to move said thrustmembers in oppo- 20 site directions.

" `ADAM J. MAY.

